Multiclassing

Learning new skills

Bennies

Multiclassing

Because this particular campaign is likely to be fairly fast-paced, without long downtime in between adventures, I'd like to institute a couple of house rules which modify the standard rules in a couple of ways.

First involves leveling up. I don't think it's appropriate for the characters to be able to freely multiclass.

Some classes require intense study and practice before their first level can be attained. You are unlikely to get that opportunity. You may not multiclass into any of the following classes during the game:

• Bard
• Druid
• Monk
• Ranger
• Wizard

You may freely multiclass into the following classes:

• Barbarian
• Fighter
• Rogue
• Sorceror

The Barbarian, Fighter and Rogue classes can be adopted by the "school of hard knocks" method, and the Sorceror class can appear spontaneously.

The last two classes require special circumstances in order to adopt:

• Cleric
• Paladin

Both of these classes require a special connection with a deity. So far there are only two characters who have such a connection (and one of them is already a cleric). I will consider these characters capable of adopting one of these two classes depending on circumstances. If other characters decide to "adopt" a deity and are able to roleplay it well, I will consider one of these classes available to them as well.

Prestige classes are freely available, with an exception. Any prestige class that has membership in a particular organisation as one of its requirements (like the Mage of the Arcane Order from Complete Arcane) is not available. Similarly, any prestige class that requires a long period of training, or an initiation from existing members of the class, is also not available. Most of the regular DMG prestige classes will probably be OK, so long as you fulfil the requirements as normal. If you want a prestige class from one of the Complete books, check with me first.

Learning New Skills

When you level up, you can assign your new skill points freely to any skill that you already have ranks in. However, you may not acquire any new skills unless they can be used untrained.

For any skill that is NOT marked "can be used untrained", you require someone to teach you the skill. You can not spend your skill points learning these skills when you go up a level unless there is someone else in the party with that skill who is willing to train you while adventuring.

The following skills may not be used untrained:

• Decipher Script
• Disable Device
• Handle Animal
• All Knowledge Skills
• Open Lock
• All Profession Skills
• Sleight of Hand
• Speak Language
• Spellcraft
• Tumble
• Use Magic Device

All other skills can be used untrained, and you can spend your skill points freely to learn them.

Bennies

Bennies are a way for players to acknowledge when another player does something really special in game. They are fun, foster teamwork, and provide a definite in-game benefit. They are subject to the following rules:

1. At the start of every session, each player receives one "benny". During play, you can award your benny to another player for any reason. If you don't award your benny by the end of the game, it is lost. You may not award your benny to yourself.
2. The player to whom a benny is awarded may "cash it in" at any time to get a +1 "benny bonus" on any d20 roll. You must declare that you are using a benny BEFORE you roll, not after. Bennies can also be used to affect the outcome of non-die-rolling situations to get a more favourable outcome, at the DM's discretion. Bennies may not be spent to modify any non-d20 roll, such as damage rolls.
3. You may spend a number of bennies on a single action equal to your character level. Benny bonuses stack with each other, and with all other types of die roll modifier.
4. Bennies accumulate between games. If you don't spend all your bennies in one session, you can keep them until the next. However, the limit on spending bennies still applies.
5. Bennies are a metagame award for good roleplaying, and are awarded to players, not characters.